Tuesday Highlands Results

Volleyball Squeaks Out Exciting Win Over South Oldham

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior Madison Opitz (left) and Madison Clore (right) get in position in a recent game.

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The Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team (24-6 overall) had to outlast the South Oldham Lady Dragons (16-12), 3-2 in a home battle at Russell Bridges Gym on Tuesday.

Highlands won the first game 25-20 before losing the next two 25-21, 25-19. The Bluebirds trailed in the fourth game before rallying for a 25-23 victory then taking the fifth game 15-6. They've beaten South Oldham twice this year. The other win came in the Cake Classic Tournament.

"Our team and community showed some incredible fight. The whole entire gym was a part of that win," said Katelyn Sallee, Highlands Head Coach. "South Oldham is a really aggressive and incredibly talented group of athletes. I'm so very proud of the fight in our team."

Highlands has not used two setters since Sallee took over as head coach in 2014. But they have this year with senior Madison Opitz and junior Kenzi Vennefron. Opitz had 33 assists and Vennefron 12. Opitz had four aces and Vennefron had two.

"I think it took us a while to get in a groove," Vennefron said. "But in the fifth set, I think it really just clicked. We came out strong and did our best."

Highlands had 12 aces, 46 kills and assists, four solo blocks and 88 digs. Senior Sophia Sarakatsannis had 17 digs, seven kills and two aces. Senior Madison Clore added 27 digs. Senior CC Shick had 18 kills, one solo block and 10 digs. Senior Nicole Ossege had five kills, two solo blocks and 11 digs.

Senior Lauren Buemi had two aces, six kills and two digs. Senior Avery Cavacini had six kills, one solo block and one dig. Senior Honor Valentine had nine digs and one ace.

Highlands takes on Boone County on Thursday. Game time is 7 p.m.

Girls Golf State Tournament:

Highlands senior KJ Toole qualified for the second day of the state golf tournament at the Bowling Green Country Club shooting an 84 and finishing tied for 28th out of the individuals not on region champions that qualified for state. 

The top 42 qualified for the second day. Claira Beth Ramsey of Madison Central and Macie Brown of Bullitt East shot an even par 72 to lead the way after the first day that was called off early because of darkness.

Toole shot 12-over on the par-72 course to tie for 45th overall. She tees off at 10:27 a.m. Wednesday.

Toole has qualified individually for the state tournament three years in a row. She did not make the cut as a sophomore in 2019. But Toole also shot an 84 on the first day last year to qualify for the second day before shooting an 88 on the second day for a two-day total of 172 good for 58th at state.